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Barak

For our lesson of Jael, found in Judges 4-5, and in our workbook, Women of the Bible, 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups, by Jean E. Syswerda. The lesson is on pages 67-70.

1. Jael – the name means: “a wild or mountain goat.” (3, pg. 67)

2. Her character: Decisive and courageous, she seized the opportunity to kill an enemy of God’s people. (3, pg. 67)

3. Her joy: To be lauded by Deborah and Barak for her part in a decisive victory. (4,pg 116)

4. Her husband: Heber, a Kenite: The husband of Jael, the woman who killed Sisera. (Judges 4:11, 17, 21; 5:24) Considerations of meter make it probable that “the wife of Heber, the Kenite” was inserted into Judges 5:24 under the influence of Judges 4. (1, pg. 552)

5. Now Heber, the Kenite had left the other Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses’ brother-in-law and pitched his tent by the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh. (2, Judges 4:11, pg. 453)

6. Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. (2, Judges 4:4, pg.452)

7. Sisera was the commander of Jabin’s, a King of Canaan, army. All of Siseras’ nine-hundred chariots and men were killed by Barak’s army. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there were friendly relations between Jabin king of Hazor, and the clan of Heber, the Kenite. (2, Judges 4:1, pg. 452 and Judges 4:15-17, pg. 454).

8. Sisera was met outside the tent by Jael. “Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she put a covering over him.(2, Judges 4:18).

9. But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.(2, Judges 4: 21 and footnote)

10. Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. “Come,” she said, “I will show you the man you’re looking for.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple—dead. (2, Judges 4:22 Bible, Pg. 454, and footnote)

Resources:

The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Volume Two E-J, In Four Volumes, Abingdon Press, New York 1962.

Jael is our next study from the series Women of the Bible, 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Goups by Jean E Syswerda. The study of Jael is found on page 67. The Bible Study will meet 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For complete information call Glenda at 727-542-4683.

From our lesson of Deborah (Judges 4-5), here are some important points. The points do not directly answer the questions on pages 63-66 of the text, but may help you in our discussion at the Saturday Bible Study 06/28/2014.

1. The Judges were God’s chosen to lead the Israelites during the period from the death of Joshua to the establishment of the monarchy starting with King Saul.(2, page 323)

2. Judges not only held court of mediation(Judges 4:5), but they were also God’s moral conscience and military leadership in a land inhabited by multiple nations (Judges 3:12-15; 4:1-3, 6-7).

3. Deborah was a prophetess and Judge (Judges 4:4) known for her faithfulness in following God (Judges 4:4) and her charismatic leadership of Israel (1, page 712).

4. Deborah held court to settle disputes in the hill country of Ephraim (Judges 4:5).

5. The Israelites did evil in God’s sight and were punished through captivity by Jabin, a king of Canaan. The commander of the Canaanite army was Sisera with nine hundred chariots. After twenty years of captivity and oppression the Israelites cried to the Lord for liberation (Judges 4:1-3).

6. Following God’s instructions, Deborah sent for Barak to carry out a plan she had for the defeat of Sisera’s troops at the Kishon River (Judges 4:6-7).

7. Barak refused to go to war without Deborah, and she consented (Judges 4:8-10).

8. Despite Heber the Kenite’s warning to Sisera (Judges 4:11-13), the Lord provided a victory for Deborah and Barak (Judges 4:14-16) by flooding the Kishon River and eliminating the effectiveness of the chariots (Judges 5:20-21).

9. Sisera, in fleeing on foot (Judges 4:17) upon the total annihilation of his army (Judges 4:16), took refuge in the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite. Jael offered Sisera sanctuary through drink and a hiding place (4:18-20)., but as soon as he fell asleep she drove a tent-peg through him temple killing him (4:21-22).

10. Deborah and Barak sang praises to the Lord for Him giving them the victory (Judges 5).